Godspeed

It appears that this site is dead. Too bad, but apparently no one is posting and that's the sign that it's dead.

Art

Yes it is slow...but not dead. Once a good technical thread pops up this place comes to life in a hurry.

Art it continues to be slow because it caters to manly technical issues. Most of the noise chatter is on the other site with some good questions and fair responces. Hopefully it will pick up as we get into the months where we all start to conduct our yearly maintainence. We'll see but please continue to post tech issues. Thanks

Hmmm...Art, interesting observation.

Let's look for a moment at F-Chat, shall we?
If we strip away the posts like:
-What oil should I run in my car?
-How often should I change my timing belt?
-Post pictures of your xxx with your xxx?
-How did you afford to buy your xxx?
-Or my car is faster/better than your car....

F-Chat has been dead for years...but, it does have entertainment value.

Regards,
David

How about this: Does anyone else shut off all the "electronic Traction controls" OFF so the newer Ferrari's can actually be driven fast at track days? I found that when they are left on ,the car is barely driveable when on the track. In the F430 at VIR, I darn near had a ZO6 vette climb over me when the 430 would not allow the engine to pull off the corner until the "lawyer software" in the ecm was happy with the G load. it also would not allow me to rotate the rear with by lifting the throttle (common trick), All it would allow was bad to severe understeer. Sorry guy's, I think this stuff is good for the street, but dangerous on the track with an experienced driver. This should liven up the site. Your thoughts!

Bob:

You can shut it off if you want. To do so on the street would be crazy, but on the track, might make good sense. However, I've found that spinning the tires, getting sideways, etc., generally isn't the quickest way around the track. Going fast requires smoothness, and the ability to figure out how to put the power down, without spinnig the tires.

While most of my experience is on bikes, some riders had a style where they would use the excess power to spin up the tires, slide the front, and generally look lurid. Didn't make them any quicker, just made them look quicker.

Art

Ha Ha Ha....(LOL)....!!!!!!!!!!!!

David, you have fchat pegged! That site is becoming more of a "poser" site and not a true enthusiast's site like ftalk is. On ftalk we have skinned knuckles, tired muscles, and strained brains....trying to figure out problems with our Ferraris. And the wealth if technical information here is without equal. At some other sites my limited knowledge is at the high end of the scale, but here on ftalk I'm just a lowly caveman, wearing a bareskin cod piece and carrying a club. When I want to talk about the latest trend or blingy stuff I go there. When I want to fix my car I come here.

Bob...it's no wonder that there is little activity here, when guys like you are out flogging their modern Ferraris on the track....cars that guys like me can only dream about. You aint got no time to be typing when your out their grinning from ear to ear with Ferrari's latest mid-engined supercar. I haven't even gotten a ride in a 360 yet...let alone an F430! It's hard for me to be sympathetic to your plight...I'm sure you understand :-) (actually I'm just jealous) But keep posting because anyway...a fellow can dream can't he?

OH and by the way Bob, I may actually have a job interview down your way next week. A certain racing organization near you is looking for a "technical policeman" to figure out quicker and easier ways to measure things and detect non-conformities in the vehicles involved in racing competition. I'm keeping my fingers crossed - you just never know...

Personally, I'm glad to see this site staying on the path that our founder JRV had in mind. On fchat he "kept things interesting" to say the least. But when you needed a straight answer he was always there. Eventually the childishness and ungratefulness drove him away to form his own website. There are also other extremely knowledgeable people who have been driven away, and fortunately landed on this site...like David, and Brian, to name two. I must emphasize you cannot put a price on the valuable information that these gentlemen generously and freely give out. Guys like me would be totally lost without them holding our hands and guiding us through. In fact...I probably would not have even bought a Ferrari (my childhood dream) without access to these great people, who take the time to teach us less-learned about our cars and how to keep them going. I'm sorry that I'm so windy on this subject, but I think many Ferrari owners take it for granted....and they shouldn't. It takes a special person to give freely - tips and information that they themselves have fought and struggled to learn the hard way. So I give a big salute to those people who re-affirm my faith in the human race and allow me to experience the passions and emotions of driving a mechanical work of art....a Ferrari.

Okay...I'll get down off my soapbox now... :-)

Art, no offense, but just because you don't have electronic software driving the car does not mean you are driving sideways, spinning the tires. I have pro raced "Much" higher powered race cars for years (P1 prototypes, Williams FW07, etc. for many years and several lap records. I have learned about throttle control. I think that the safety systems as programmed are really slowing the car down. If its about performance, I still think that this stuff is programmed by the lawyers, and its not for performance. "Its great stuff for the street." I did shut it off on the track, but why have it at all if it only helps in the off position. I think even on the street with it on, there are many cars that will drive right past as these systems really mess with the driver input. I would like to assume that people that buy a high powered car would take the time and learn to drive it properly with respect that the car deserves. I know the systems used in racing help the driver. The system in the street version really doesn't help you drive safer, just slower with sudden changes that the driver may not expect.
your thoughts, sir,,, just trying to stir up the site, JRV would approve. Robert

Hey Jeff, Missed your post by 4 minutes, stop by if "YALL" are near us. But, if your going to police the racing people here in RaceCity (Mooresville and Charlotte, NC) you better bring a whole box of really sharp pencils. And just to keep it straight, the F430 is owned by my friend, and I was his personal driving coach for FCA track days.

Hey Art, we are up to 9 posts,,,,,, site not dead.

And David, I drained the oil out of my car, and now will drive to autozone,,,what kind of oil should I get?